Jan. 6

California Students to Receive Media Literacy Classes Under New Law

November 28, 2023 By MKE Community Journal Leave a Comment

Bill No. 873 will integrate media literacy content into the existing mathematics, science, and history-social science curriculum frameworks.

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
California has enacted a law mandating the inclusion of media literacy education in the K–12 curriculum, which state officials called a proactive approach to address the growing challenge of misinformation. The legislation, known as Bill No. 873, received approval from Gov. Gavin Newsom in October and is set to take effect in January 2024.
The bill, which Assemblymember Marc Berman, a Democrat representing San Mateo County in Northern California, spearheaded, emphasizes the urgent need for students to distinguish between fact and fiction, particularly in the digital age where misinformation has become more pervasive.
Bill No. 873 will integrate media literacy content into the existing mathematics, science, and history-social science curriculum frameworks. According to Berman, the objective is to empower students to navigate the complex online information landscape, fostering a generation equipped to evaluate and counteract misinformation critically.
In a statement posted on his official website, Berman emphasized the significance of incorporating media literacy into the educational framework. “Teaching media literacy is a key strategy to support our children, their families, and our society that are inundated with misinformation and disinformation on social media networks and digital platforms,” Berman stated.
The escalating levels of distrust in the media and the tangible consequences of online misinformation underscore the urgency of such education, the assemblyman stated. He pointed to the real-world impacts that have transpired due to the unchecked spread of misinformation, citing examples ranging from climate denial to vaccine conspiracy theories and even the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol.
According to the National Association for Media Literacy, media literacy builds upon traditional literacy and offers new forms of reading and writing. Media literacy empowers people to be critical thinkers and makers, effective communicators, and active citizens. “Our children live in a world of powerful 24/7 media. In addition to children’s exposure to traditional forms of media and advertisements like television, print (magazines, books), and billboards, new media has exploded in recent years. Over the last decade, there has been a drastic increase in the amount of time children and youth are engaging with media, particularly digital media,” officials at Media Literacy Now wrote on their website.
“Children ages 2 to 8 spend an average of two hours per day, children between 8 and 12 spend four to six hours, and adolescents over 12 years old spend an average of seven to nine hours per day, according to recent research.” Officials at the advocacy group, Media Literacy Now, noted that media is everywhere, and technology is a part of life. However, they stressed that, with children spending such large amounts of time online and in front of screens, they are exposed to messages and information that can hurt their health and well-being and prevent them from becoming empowered and engaged citizens. “The negative impact that media can have on our children is profound,” officials stated.

Trump’s Role in Capitol Riot Takes Center Stage at D.C. Trial

November 17, 2023 By MKE Community Journal Leave a Comment

In a new court filing, special counsel Jack Smith’s team has made it clear that the mob that stormed Congress in Trump’s name will be the linchpin of their case.

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

As former President Donald Trump gears up to face a District of Columbia jury on charges related to his alleged efforts to subvert the 2020 election, the battle over whether the chaos and violence that unfolded at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, should play a central role in his trial has taken a prominent turn.
In a new court filing, special counsel Jack Smith’s team has made it clear that the mob that stormed Congress in Trump’s name will be the linchpin of their case. Smith contends that the events of that fateful day were not merely an unfortunate reaction to Trump’s provocative remarks but rather a tool employed by Trump in a last-ditch effort to maintain his grip on power.
“On January 6, 2021, lives were lost, blood was shed, portions of the Capitol building were badly damaged, and the lives of members of the House and Senate, as well as aides, staffers, and others working in the building, were endangered,” Smith asserted in the new court documents. “Yet publicly, the defendant has promoted and extolled the events of that day. While the violent attack was ongoing, the defendant told rioters that they were ‘very special’ and that ‘we love you.’ In the years since, he has championed rioters as ‘great patriots’ and proclaimed January 6 ‘a beautiful day.’ In this case, though, the defendant seeks to distance himself, moving to strike allegations in the indictment related to ‘the actions at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.’”
Trump has vehemently demanded that any information linking him to the January 6 insurrection should not be admissible in the upcoming trial. According to Politico, calling witnesses like rioters Dustin Thompson and Danny Rodriguez to the stand could strengthen Smith’s case.
Thompson, who argued at his trial that his decision to maraud through the Senate parliamentarian’s office amid the chaos was a direct result of Trump’s remarks, and Danny Rodriguez, who buried a borrowed taser into the neck of D.C. Police Officer Michael Fanone on January 6, have similarly contended that Trump’s lies about election fraud essentially brainwashed them.
“Indeed, that day was the culmination of the defendant’s criminal conspiracies to overturn the legitimate results of the presidential election when the defendant directed a large and angry crowd—one that he had summoned to Washington, D.C., and fueled with knowingly false claims of election fraud—to the Capitol to obstruct the congressional certification proceeding,” Smith emphasized. “When his supporters did so, including through violence, the defendant did not try to stop them; instead, he encouraged them and attempted to leverage their actions by further obstructing the certification. Contrary to the defendant’s claims, then, the indictment’s allegations related to the actions at the Capitol are relevant and probative evidence of the defendant’s conduct and intent, and they are neither prejudicial nor inflammatory,” Smith concluded.

Former Proud Boys Leader Enrique Tarrio Sentenced to Prison for Role in Jan. 6 Capitol Attack

September 6, 2023 By MKE Community Journal Leave a Comment

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

The proverbial chickens have come home to roost for former national chairman of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, who was convicted earlier this year for seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, is now facing the consequences of his actions. Tarrio, whose actions, and associations have led many to label him a traitor, including because his race and ethnicity seem to defy the loyalty he’s displayed toward white supremacists and former President Donald Trump, has been handed the most substantial prison sentence out of all the insurrectionists for his role in the events of that tumultuous day.
The Afro-Cuban Tarrio, who is 38-year-old Tarrio and was born in Miami and raised Catholic in Little Havana, was sentenced to up to 22 years in prison that included a terrorism enhancement for his involvement in plotting to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election results in Congress, intending to keep Trump in power. Prosecutors pushed for a 33-year sentence.
“The case of Enrique Tarrio demonstrates that white supremacy, colonialism and misogyny are inseparable phenomena,” noted X user, @quitafor. “He played proxy for all the three but is about to get sentenced like any regular ole Black man.”
Ironically, despite being a key figurehead of the Proud Boys, Tarrio did not physically make it to the Capitol on Jan. 6. He was arrested 48 hours earlier for unrelated unlawful activity at a Donald Trump event. Authorities discovered he was already aware of an impending arrest warrant, thanks to a tip-off from a D.C. police lieutenant, who has since faced federal charges related to the incident.
Among the participants in the Jan. 6 attack, Tarrio’s co-defendant Ethan Nordean, the head of the Seattle chapter of the Proud Boys, and Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, received some of the longest sentences thus far, both receiving 18-year terms. Nordean’s sentencing took place last Friday. Prosecutors argued that Tarrio strategically orchestrated his arrest to incite a reaction from his followers.
Prosecutors emphasized that Tarrio’s absence from the Capitol on Jan. 6 should not diminish the severity of his role, as he was considered a key orchestrator rather than a mere participant. They described him as “intelligent, charming, creative, and articulate,” highlighting his ability to attract and radicalize numerous followers, promote political violence, and orchestrate charged conspiracies. In his case, they also advocated for a terrorism sentencing enhancement, asserting that his actions were undeniably aimed at influencing the government.
“To Tarrio, Jan. 6 was an act of revolution,” prosecutors stated.
In Tarrio’s defense, his legal team sought a deviation from the sentencing guidelines and submitted letters of support to the court. Among those vouching for him was Tarrio’s cousin, a Miami police officer with 16 years of service. Tarrio attempted to gain mercy by finally admitting to the judge that, “What happened on January 6 was a national embarrassment.” He said he didn’t expect his candidate [Trump] to lose. Prior to Tarrio addressing the court, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly demurred, “I don’t see how [Tarrio] can be remorseful when he doesn’t acknowledge the crime for which he was convicted. His statements while the offense was basically going on were quite revealing about his mindset at that time.”
Since the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, over 1,100 individuals have faced charges concerning the events, with more than 300 already serving sentences. New arrests continue to occur regularly, including recent apprehensions of individuals involved in breaching the Lower West tunnel at the Capitol and one who filmed a TikTok video bragging about rioters “taking the White House,” according to the FBI.
Meanwhile, Trump, who awaits four criminal trials encompassing 91 felony counts, is facing the possibility of a prison term exceeding 800 years. Also found liable for sexual assault in a civil lawsuit earlier this year, the ex-president has not publicly expressed support for Tarrio.